Anti-Aging Skin Care Advice

t’s never too early to start an anti-aging, anti-wrinkle skin care plan. And it is also never too late to slow down the signs of aging skin — and even take steps to reverse them.

Step One: Practice Sun Protection Every Day

According to Scott Gerrish, MD, a nonsurgical skin care specialist with offices in Virginia and Maryland, “The single most important anti-aging thing you can do for your skin daily is to apply a high SPF [sun protection factor] sunscreen, preferably with zinc oxide or titanium oxide to protect you from the harmful rays of the sun.”

Wearing sunscreen is not just for summer days or to protect you at the beach. That is because the aging effects of the sun can zero in on the skin during everyday activities, such as walking the dog or watching your child’s soccer game, at any time of the year.

Step Two: Start an Anti-Aging Diet

Eat at least 8 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits daily and fish high in omega-3s three times a week to help your skin keep from aging from the inside out. “What you eat is the second most important anti-aging factor for your skin, the first being sun protection,” Dr. Gerrish says. Drink plenty of water and green tea (three to four cups daily) and eat a fiber-rich diet to reap the most benefits for your skin.